A state Supreme Court justice in Franklin County ruled Wednesday that the Cuomo administration's plan to turn a 34-mile-long section of an Adirondack railroad into a multi-use trail was "arbitrary and capricious" and failed to follow numerous state laws.
The state's plan called for removing the rails between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid for a trail corridor that could be used by hikers, bicyclists, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers.
The plan was opposed by the Adirondack Rail Preservation Society, which operates tourist trains as the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.
The justice's ruling was in response to a lawsuit the organization filed against the state last year.
State officials say they're reviewing the decision.
The state's plan for the 119-mile rail corridor from Utica to Lake Placid was finalized after many years of contentious debate.
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